The Trumpet of the Swan

Later that evening, the swan hears a small sound coming from the eggs, and the next morning, she notices some movement under her body. She concludes that a little cygnet might be wiggling its way free and continues to patiently wait. Meanwhile, the cob keeps watch, gliding around the island in wait and feeling “poetical and proud” (26). The swan is more straightforward and practical, while the cob is grandiose and professorial. That afternoon, to their joy, their first cygnet is born. 

The next morning, Sam fixes himself an early breakfast and leaves his father a note saying that he will return in time for lunch. He packs some supplies and hikes out to the pond to observe the swans with a pair of field glasses. The swan correctly notes that binoculars are used to magnify what a person is looking at. Although Sam does not understand what they are saying, he is content to be in the swans’ company and is delighted when he sees a baby cygnet emerging from beneath its mother’s feathers. 

After an hour, once all five cygnets are exploring outside the nest, their parents decide to take them for their first swim. As they head to the water, the cob gives his children a speech that points out the marsh’s environmental features and warns of various dangers.